Giant Robot Store and GR2 News

Save the UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden. It’s a good looking garden that might get sold to a stranger. It’s in an extremely high rent area and the land is worth more than the value of the garden. The original family, the Carter’s didn’t want this to get sold and a protest is underway. There’s much more info at the link. (LAist – Japanese Garden)  
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Fujiya Market which has always looked out of place on Virgil was once in an area of Japanese Americans called J-Flats. No. I’ve never heard of that, and this market at 80 years is still there. The proprietors aren’t the originals, but the space looks classic and great. I made a comment recently about Granada Market on Sawtelle which shares a similar type vibe. It’s old, classic, strange and you hope it won’t close, but it probably will. No kid wants to take over an old market as much as they’d want to own a taco truck. For spots like these, I’d wish there were grants, rent subsidies and so on just to keep them open as historical locations. They do matter in the history of a city. (LA Weekly – Fujiya Market) For more photos, take a look at this flickr page by Guzzleandnosh.
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He might be one of the greatest designers out of Japan, ever. Sori Yanagi, the creator of the often replicated Butterfly Stool and assorted kitchen items and more passes away at 96. I’m not sure if the title for the Washington Post article is cool, calling him a pioneer designer of arty stools and kitchenware, but if that’s how he’s seen, rather than creating useful and beautiful objects, then that’s short sighted. Would they call and or dismiss the Eames chairs arty? I doubt it. Yet, Yanagi is indeed a pioneer and kept his work useful and clean. When I see his body of work, I feel like I understand the man. If that’s really the case, I’ll never know, but his work stands out and it’s always of quality. (Washington Post – Yanagi)  
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DAILY PICKS Momiji Doll – Poppet. It’s cool how it comes in a what looks like a take out container. ($16) Poppet is insanely cute and there are plenty of other styles of Momiji. Check the others out here. Everyone needs erasers and these are the cutest. We have three types: Hedgehog, Animals, and Maneki Neko (Lucky Cat). We set it up so you can choose which styles work for you. ($1 ea)
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KAMEN RIDER Vs. SUPER SENTAI kicked off a double anniversary celebration of Ishimori Shotaro’s famous characters in downtown Los Angeles last weekend.  Curated by Little Tokyo’s new pop-culture shop addition, Q Pop Shop, and supported by Bandai and Anime Jungle, this official tribute honors 40 years of Kamen Rider and 35 years of Super Sentai.  150 artists offered a unique and eclectic twist on these retro icons that have captivated generations.  Super Sentai would eventually evolve into today’s Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series.  Artists representing Japan included a rare mix such as TOUMA, Devil Robots, Chikuwaemil, Mad Barbarians, and Yucachin’- joined by Luke Chueh, Misha, Martin Hsu, Lillidoll, and a larger-than- life Kamen Rider.  The timing of this exhibit, hosted by JACCC  (Japanese American Cultural Community Center), falls on coinciding celebrations.  In Japan, Bandai is simultaneously developing a new Super Sentai artist-series line.  Their video game “Super Sentai Battle Ranger Cross” was released in September this year.  “KAMEN RIDER Vs. SUPER SENTAI: Anniversaries Tribute Exhibition” exhibits at JACCC in downtown Los Angeles, from November 5 – November 13, 2011. (Text and photos by Caro)

 

 

Plenty of photos below!

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